Two Women Hiding to Find Food Shot Dead
Evidence Destroyed by Feeding to Pigs... Intensifying Ethnic Conflict
A shocking incident came to light in South Africa where a white farmer killed black women with a gun and then dumped their bodies in a pigsty to destroy evidence.
On the 2nd (local time), The New York Times (NYT) and BBC reported that Zakaria Johannes Olivier (60), a farm owner in Limpopo Province, South Africa, along with farm managers Adrian de Wet (19) and William Musora (50), were charged with murder.
In mid-August, two women named Maria Makato (44) and Lokadia Nedlobu (35) secretly entered Olivier's farm to find food.
Until 1994, many black people in South Africa were forcibly deprived of land ownership due to apartheid (racial segregation policies). As a result, most major commercial farms are still owned by white people, and it is reported that in rural areas, residents often sneak into farms to scavenge for discarded food.
Makato and Nedlobu entered the farm to look for food after a dairy company truck had visited, but were shot and killed by Olivier and the managers. Makato's husband, who entered the farm with them, escaped and survived.
Olivier and the managers dumped the bodies of the two women in the pigsty, and according to local police, some of the remains were found severely damaged after being eaten by pigs.
Charged with murdering two Black women and dumping them in a pigsty are (from right) farm owner Zakaria Johannes Olivier and farm workers Adrian de Wet and William Musora. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The police believe they fed the bodies to the pigs to cover up the crime and arrested and charged Olivier and the two managers with murder and other charges.
This incident has turned South African society upside down. Residents protested outside the court, and politicians issued consecutive statements condemning racism.
Makato's son appealed, saying, "My mother was just trying to find something to feed her children," and "I cannot understand how such a life ended so horribly."
Makato's brother, Walter Matol, told the BBC in an interview, "This incident has further worsened racial tensions between black and white people in South Africa." Despite apartheid being officially abolished about 30 years ago, the BBC reported that discrimination against black people is still widespread in rural areas of South Africa.
However, some argue that many white farmers have felt threatened due to continuous intrusions. They claim the government has failed to properly protect white farmers, leaving them exposed to danger.
Nonetheless, these individuals generally agree that "even so, people should not attack or kill others."
Meanwhile, the suspects including Olivier applied for bail, and a court hearing was held on the 1st. Angered by this, black people protested in front of the court demanding opposition to bail. Ultimately, the court postponed the bail hearing to November 6.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
